If they can do it, why canâ€™t we?

Last week progressives in three states passed legislation that addresses living wages, state EITC and mental health parity.

Maryland approved the first-in-the-nation living wage bill. HB430, sponsored by Del. Herman Taylor, requires state contractors to pay employees a living wage. The bill creates a two-tier system: wages in urban areas will be at least $11.30 per hour; wages in rural areas will be at least $8.50 per hour. Maryland’s minimum wage is the same as North Carolina’s, $6.15 per hour.

New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill creating a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) worth 8% of the federal EITC. HB 436 introduced by Rep. Ben Lujan will help low-income working families in New Mexico.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed a bill broadening the state’s mental health parity law. The bill, HB1460 sponsored by Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, will require health insurers to offer mental health coverage that is equitable to medical coverage to small businesses and individuals. A 2005 mental health parity law already covered employees of large companies.

News of these bills passed by other states leaves me wondering, if they can do it, why can’t North Carolina?

This session, legislators are considering HB51, which provides a 10% of the federal EITC, as well as a mental health parity bill (SB1434). These bills would go a long way to improving life for half a million North Carolina families who are struggling financially. Other states are proving that it is not too costly to provide living wages, Earned Income Tax Credits or mental health parity. We can do it too!